Leveling Up through Eating

The Eight Pillars were the core figures that supported and maintained the world. They were beings who possessed powers beyond one’s imagination.

Most experts viewed the Eight Pillars as beings that stood above the Absolute Gods. Of course, several discussions and evaluations said that the Battle God and the God of Death possessed power on par with the Eight Pillars. However, the rest of the gods were known to exert less influence, impact, and power than the Eight Pillars.

The power of the Eight Pillars had been revealed to the world when Alexander changed his class to Weapon Master. He was the first to change into the Eight Pillar Class and achieved rapid growth when his class changed.

In one interview, the reporters asked Alexander this question.

–How will you compare to the current Weapon Master?

A bitter expression flashed on Alexander’s face as he answered.

–If we’re talking about my level, I’m only at the level where I had only taken my first baby step.

Everyone was shocked by his answer. Alexander, along with Minhyuk, was one of the high-ranking representatives of Athenae. However, had this very same Alexander only taken one baby step compared to the current Weapon Master?

Many players and experts were left in horror as they tried to search for information and dig deeper into the Eight Pillars. They discovered a villain who had killed millions, perhaps even hundreds of millions more if given the chance. There was someone who everyone already knew–Athenae, the god who was in charge of the entire world of Athenae.

Everyone concluded that the Eight Pillars were unreachable beings to the players. Some of the world’s wealthiest were even willing to spend their money to forge a connection with them. Of course, the same was true for Alexander. However, even the world’s richest man could not reach or contact the Eight Pillars.

But now, one of the Eight Pillars had appeared in front of everyone’s eyes. And he was even with Minhyuk. And Minhyuk also said it himself.

–He’s going to make the portraits, statues, and artifact samples right here and now?

They would understand what it meant if one was not a fool.

“Are you saying that one of the Eight Pillars will make all of the items representing Minhyuk?” One of the reporters exclaimed, his voice shaking.

The commotion that broke out among the reporters grew more and more.

PD Kim Daeguk hurriedly called the broadcasting station. He shouted, “Get the shooting team here, now!!!”

Go Eun-Ah looked at the scene with eyes as wide as a saucer. She thought, ‘I thought it would be nice if he could surprise us. But he went ahead and dropped a bomb on us.’

Everyone knew this was an opportunity to capture and show the world how one of the Eight Pillars made portraits, statues, and artifact samples.

***

One of the Eight Pillars will make various items for the Battle God’s Temple.

These words created a massive ripple like a stone thrown into the water. Various broadcasting stations hurriedly began to do live broadcasts while BJs worldwide rushed to the Battle God’s Temple.

However, the heat died down a bit shortly after. This was because of the words of the two people who had been invited by one of the broadcasting stations. One of them was God of Painting Runan, while the other was star sculptor Barden. These two were players known to have reached the highest level of their respective fields.

The conversation between the MC and the two people was broadcast worldwide.

[So, the two of you are saying that there’s no need to make a considerable fuss right now?]

The two nodded at the same time.

Runan, a woman sitting cross-legged, said with pride and arrogance, evident in her voice.

[That’s right. When I made my masterpiece, the God-grade painting “The Order of the World,” it took me almost a month. And this work could only be born thanks to the passive skills of Painter’s Soul, Extreme Concentration, Painting Harmony, and the likes being triggered.]

[I agree. It also took me two months to create the Graceful Goddess Statue, the masterpiece that made me who I am today. However, the Beyond the Heavens Empire just announced the start of this production, no?]

Their conversation revolved around the announcement that the Beyond the Heavens Empire had just made.

[It will be completed in around a day or two. So, you should wait.]

However, Runan twisted her lips. It seemed like she still found it unbelievable.

[You don’t even know the “A” in art. Even if that Jack-of-all-Trades Rocado is one of the Eight Pillars and is known to possess outstanding abilities related to dexterity, there’s no way he could produce an art that carries a soul in just a day or two. Don’t you think so?]

Barden looked at Runan, who had begun growling her words and nodded in agreement.

[But it should be different from a blacksmith making artifacts or Player Minhyuk cooking dishes. After all, Rocado is the father of dexterity.]

However, many people viewed Father of Dexterity Rocado differently.

[Even so, he can only be as good as a god in dexterity. Nothing more, nothing less.]

That was right. That was how they evaluated Rocado. And since they only viewed him as someone equivalent to a god, they believed he could not make anything at the God-grade in just a day.

[So, the two of you are saying that Rocado will be unable to make God-grade portraits, sculptures, and artifact samples and won’t be able to surprise the people?]

[Of course.]

[Since it’s only a day or two, I think he’ll only make legendary-grade items.]

The expression on the MC’s face seemed to say that he found their words reasonable enough. Since he was the Father of Dexterity, they thought he was only hailed as such because he was outstanding in all fields and not insanely excellent and exceptional.

Of course, the part where the MC had to relay the viewers’ questions could not be excluded from the interview.

[One of our viewers asked this question: But what if the items that he will create for the Battle God temple can surpass your masterpieces?]

Runan and Barden just laughed at the question.

[That won’t happen. But since we’re talking about this then… If it happens, I will paint the portrait of all the executives and the outstanding NPCs of the Beyond the Heavens Empire and give it to them as a present.]

Barden also nodded, showing his agreement.

[I will also do the same.]

If Minhyuk were watching this broadcast, he would say this, ‘Lucky? Aren’t they trying to make it too easy for me?’

***

The number of reporters and players that had started to crowd in front of the Battle God’s Temple to watch the situation had more than doubled.

Many of them felt depressed after the interview with Runan and Barden had been broadcast.

“Just legendary-grade?”

“But no matter how great an Eight Pillar is, it would already be amazing if they could produce three legendary-grade items in a single day.”

The reporters spoke as if they had fully understood. Just like they said, making three legendary-grade items in a single day was already considered shocking. Even though they felt like it was still lacking, now that they had already come here, they could not leave without seeing this through to the end.

Meanwhile, Rocado had sat down with Minhyuk and listened to his story from beginning to end.

“I leave it to you.”

Rocado slowly nodded.

‘This…’ Rocado looked around at the crowd around him. ‘...will be my life’s masterpiece.’

His body was already starting to rot and break. However, Minhyuk had spoken before they came here.

–Where is Eirin’s grave located? I’ll bring you two to a place with good sunlight and a view of the moon and the stars.

Preparing one’s own grave when they already knew that they were about to die was very terrifying. However, Rocado could tell that Minhyuk did not ask him this because he wanted to get something from him.

–Ah, it should be somewhere in the Beyond the Heavens Empire. That way, it would be easier for Herakel to come and visit you.

Rocado smiled faintly when he heard those words as warmth flooded his chest.

‘The new Pillar will be nothing like the other Eight Pillars.’ Rocado was sure of this, especially after he had heard Minhyuk’s story from the beginning to the end.

Finally, the gathered crowd was asked to step back. Once they did, Rocado waved his hand and summoned a gigantic smithy.

Crackle–

Smoke started to rise as the molten iron inside the smithy boiled instantly. Rocado stepped forward and approached the hottest place in the smithy.

“It looks like he’s going to make the artifact samples.”

Many of the reporters turned to look at Hyemin’sDaddy.

“Samples are the same as the artifacts. They have both the attack and defensive powers as well as the unique abilities of the original artifact. However, there is a condition that it cannot be used, and because of that, it is much easier to make.

“The problem here is the level of His Majesty Minhyuk’s artifacts. The level of His Majesty’s artifacts is at a level that even the blacksmiths of the current era could not produce a sample of.”

All the reporters had turned their cameras to Hyemin’sDaddy and recorded his words.

Clang–

Claaaang–

Claaaaaaang–!

The sound of a hammer colliding with metal resonated in the area. At the same time, dozens of hands appeared around Rocado. Each hand moved to create a different artifact: armor, accessories, and the cape.

“This is… crazy…”

“...?”

“What the hell is that…?”

Their jaws all dropped in shock when they saw the scene.

One of the blacksmith players said, “If you use those hands, then it’s only natural that the degree of completion of the artifact will be significantly reduced.”

However, the words of this player were completely overshadowed by the notifications that rang three hours later.

[Rocado has perfectly reproduced the Sword of Aeon.]

“...!”

“...!”

A commotion broke out among the crowd of people.

[Rocado has perfectly reproduced the Transcendental’s Armor.]

[Rocado…]

[Rocado…]

[Rocado…]

[Rocado…]

The notifications rang constantly as the artifacts that Minhyuk had equipped were placed one after another in front of Rocado.

After that, Rocado moved before a blank canvas and began drawing Minhyuk’s face.

‘Eyes that are gentle but can observe and see through the world.

‘Straight and sharp nose that shows the dignity of an emperor.

‘A full and powerful chin that shows his charisma.’

With a few strokes of Rocado’s brush, Minhyuk’s face started to take shape. He painted Minhyuk in the armor that he was wearing with his legs crossed as he sat on a chair. The way Minhyuk crossed his legs in the painting showed his pride, majesty, and dignity as the Battle God. The fork and knife were also crossed together, and the symbol of the Beyond the Heavens Empire was painted behind him. The image of the Beyond the Heavens’ Emperor himself was born under Rocado’s brush.

Rocado had already fully understood everything about Minhyuk, the emperor of the Beyond the Heavens Empire. He knew how many hardships and trials he endured and overcame to reach this position. So, he made sure to incorporate his understanding and capture as much of the man's essence as he could in the painting that he was making.

Rocado lifted his brush.

[The Portrait: ‘Beyond the Heavens Empire’s First Emperor’ has been completed.]

[You have an excellent understanding of the subject of your portrait.]

[You have perfectly reproduced the emperor's image with your outstanding skills.]

[The Portrait: ‘Beyond the Heavens Empire’s First Emperor’ is God-grade!]

It only took four hours, but in those four hours, Rocado completed a God-grade painting. The pillar of light falling from the sky was proof of this.

This time, Rocado picked up the chisel and began to carve and sculpt at an incredibly high speed.

All the reporters and players gathered in the area held their breaths. They watched as the sculpture's figure slowly took shape under Rocado’s fingertips.

The gigantic plaster slowly turned into an extraordinary and heroic figure. The figure looked exhausted; however, its eyes were filled with determination and intent to kill as it looked at the enemies. With the Sword of Aeon at hand, it looked like it was shouting for his troops to advance and charge forward.

[The Sculpture: ‘The Great Sovereign who Leads the Gods’ has been completed.]

[You have an excellent understanding of the subject of your sculpture.]

[You have reproduced the image of the Great Sovereign who Leads the Gods perfectly with your outstanding skills.]

[The Sculpture: ‘The Great Sovereign who Leads the Gods’ is God-grade!]

Another pillar of light fell from the sky.

Each of the items born from Rocado’s hands slowly found their place, which had been left behind by the construction workers by themselves.

Not far from the entrance, the portrait “Beyond the Heavens Empire’s First Emperor” was hung neatly. The artifact samples lined up neatly and displayed themselves in front of the portrait. Deep inside the temple, the magnificent statue of the God who would be worshiped in this temple stood in place.

“Wow…”

“Crazy.”

“All of the items are God-grade?”

The countless reporters and viewers were all left in awe. However, the shocking notifications were not yet over.

[The Unfinished Evangel is scanning the entirety of the Battle God’s Temple.]

A mysterious light shone from Minhyuk’s body, and it began to observe and appreciate the temple. Its thoughts and impressions continued to ring in Minhyuk’s ears with every item it looked at. When it observed the final piece of the temple, a world message rang out.

[The Temple from the Myths, Evangel, reveals its complete and finished appearance!]

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